Long-Term Monitoring of Health Inequalities

An annual report which summarises the long-term differences in health trends between the least and most deprived areas of Scotland.

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All-cause mortality aged 15-44 years

Summary

  • Inequalities have remained stable in absolute terms, but are widening in relative terms

Between 1997 and 2009, rates of death have been stable amongst those aged 15-44 years as a whole. Within this age group, rates of drug related deaths have doubled by over the same period (to around 440 deaths per year), rates of death from assault have stayed the same (around 50 deaths per year) and rates of death from suicide have dropped by 14% (to around 430 deaths per year). However, note that the relatively small numbers involved mean that comparison of numbers for single years should be interpreted with caution as there will be natural fluctuation from one year to the next.

Deaths amongst those aged 15-44 years are more common in deprived areas than in areas of low deprivation. In 2009, the all-cause mortality rate for adults aged 15-44 years in the most deprived decile was 238 compared to a rate of 42 in the least deprived decile. While inequalities have remained fairly stable in absolute terms over this period, they have increased in relative terms (as demonstrated by the RII, albeit with some fluctuation from one year to the next).

Inequalities gradient in the most recent year available

Mortality amongst those aged 15-44 years, by Income-Employment Index: Scotland 2009

Relative Index of Inequality ( RII) over time

Relative index of inequality (RII): mortality aged 15-44y - Scotland 1997-2009

Absolute range over time

Absolute range: Mortality 15-44y - Scotland 1997-2009

Scale / context

Number of deaths Target population size Rate per 100,000 ( EASR)
1997 2,436 2,158,030 112.0
1998 2,498 2,142,787 115.1
1999 2,507 2,129,794 115.6
2000 2,501 2,118,568 114.8
2001 2,509 2,111,242 114.9
2002 2,566 2,096,447 118.5
2003 2,461 2,087,978 113.3
2004 2,409 2,084,722 110.9
2005 2,305 2,081,858 105.5
2006 2,482 2,085,170 114.5
2007 1 2,461 2,086,427 114.2
2008 1 2,443 2,081,506 114.5
2009 2,389 2,075,639 112.0

1. The 2007 and 2008 data has been revised since the publication of the October 2010 report.

Deaths from assault Drug related deaths Suicides
Number EASR per 100,000 Number EASR per 100,000 Number EASR per 100,000
1997 56 2.6 196 9.1 518 23.7
1998 65 3.1 227 10.8 526 24.2
1999 86 4.0 274 13.2 529 24.6
2000 60 2.9 268 12.8 541 25.5
2001 63 3.0 288 13.8 531 24.9
2002 76 3.6 345 17.0 539 25.6
2003 71 3.4 281 13.7 456 21.5
2004 78 3.8 311 15.4 475 22.1
2005 50 2.4 277 13.2 436 20.7
2006 83 4.0 351 17.0 435 20.6
2007 1 54 2.6 392 18.9 453 21.6
2008 1 53 2.6 477 23.1 480 23.1
2009 47 2.3 436 21.0 432 20.6
2010 54 2.6 384 18.6 423 20.3

1. The 2007 and 2008 data has been revised since the publication of the October 2010 report.

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